How to lead with levity: why serious leaders don’t always keep a straight face 

Adjust your tone of voice

Use a calm and friendly tone of voice. This won’t lead to direct laughter – which you are not necessarily looking for – but rather will lighten the atmosphere and help you connect better with your audience. This is the default voice of FBI hostage negotiators.  

Use written communications

We all have multiple opportunities every day to add levity to our emails; regardless how serious the subject matter. This can be done by signing off with an emoji or a phrase to end on a note of “relatability”.

Practice first

Get comfortable in developing a light touch by beginning with colleagues you know well in no-pressure situations. Levity is rare in leadership, so you are likely to draw attention, and only use it to de-escalate tension when you feel more confident.

Don’t make it about you

You don’t want to come across like David Brent or Michael Scott in The Office. The aim is to put everyone in the room at ease, so don’t try to land jokes that will get you a big laugh.

Prepare

Embed a touch of (low-stakes) levity in your next presentation; for example by including a humorous image or short video. Animals and nature are usually safe subjects that do well across cultures.  

Beware the risks

Attempting to prompt laughter through witty remarks is a tricky exercise in diverse environments and can undermine your credibility as a leader. It might also be interpreted as making fun of a serious situation or individual, so go gently and approach it in small steps to avoid the pitfalls.